Client Update: Registration Opens in the U.S. for the H-1B Visa Lottery

Registration Opens in the U.S. for the

H-1B Visa Lottery

Dear Clients,

Registration for the H-1B visa lottery opens today, March 1, 2022. The H-1B visa is intended for foreign experts holding academic degrees in a field that is relevant to their proposed job duties.

The H-1B visa is subject to an annual, worldwide quota. Because availability is limited and demand is high, the U.S. immigration agency (USCIS) holds a lottery at the end of every March. Registration for this year’s lottery is open from today until March 18, 2022.

Last year, USCIS received more than 308,600 H-1B registrations, and initially selected 87,500. During 2021 additional registrations were added to the winning pool, leading to a final success rate of 37%.

Companies whose registrations are selected may proceed with filing an H-1B petition for employment of the individual named in the registration. That said, because the annual H-1B quota itself opens only on October 1, 2022, the start-date of any approved H-1B employment will be as of the month of October.

USCIS registration fees are $10. Instructions for registering a candidate for this year’s H-1B lottery can be found here.

More on the H-1B Visa:

The H-1B visa is a good way for the U.S. offices of Israeli companies to employ foreign experts from Israel, India, and just about any other country. In many cases, this involves employing recent university graduates seeking to work in their fields of study in the U.S. The visa is valid for an initial 3 years, and can be extended for an additional 3-year period.

Our Corporate Immigration Practice will be pleased to offer any needed advice or assistance with this year’s H-1B lottery registrations.